Union branches organised community rallies to collect petition signatures in support of improved ratios.

President of the NSWNMA Ryde Hospital branch, Ciaran McCloughan, said his members held a rally outside the office of their local MP “to show our dissatisfaction with the government.”

Michelle Callard, president of the NSWNMA’s Macarthur branch said: “I hope See Red Day sent a united and strong message to the O’Farrell Government so that patients get the correct and safe care by adequately staffing the wards.”

President of the Mona Vale hospital branch, Robyn Brown said: “We need more, qualified staff but our award expired on 30 June with no firm offer of improvement in the ratios.”

Nurses attended a Community Cabinet meeting in Penrith wearing red. Nepean branch vice-president Kerry Rodgers criticised the government’s unequal treatment of hospitals, which she called “discrimination based on postcode” and urged Health Minister Jillian Skinner to listen to the views and experiences of nurses and midwives.